Marin parks chief calls trail plan critics 'misinformed'

Marin County's parks chief says a plan to manage roads and trails on 16,000 acres of county open space preserves faces a "campaign of misinformation" from critics who do not understand the program.

The plan promotes safety and protects the environment while posing restrictions that include shutting "redundant" trails and roads, controlling access and reining in disruptions such as mountain bike racing.

The program, which calls for best practices and no "net increase" in the trail network, was warmly embraced when introduced to a diverse crowd at the Civic Center last month, but got the cold shoulder during a raucous session on an environmental report earlier this month. Speakers worried about closing trails, outlawing off-trail jaunts and limiting bike access as well as off-leash dogs.

Parks chief Linda Dahl said many of those protesting did not participate in the 10 public workshops on the plan or had read the document that resulted — and instead relied "on inaccurate or misleading" information circulated by blogs and other social media.

She noted the environmental impact report at issue is a technical document that can be confusing to the uninitiated.

"Sentences were quoted out of context and were misunderstood," she said.

In the most critical habitat areas, comprising 15 percent of the preserves, informal trails generate safety, environmental and other problems. "In these areas ... we will try to reduce the impacts ... by relocating the trails," she said. "In these areas, we will require dogs to be leashed and ask people to stay on the trail." Many believed "that these requirements would apply to all the lands, which is inaccurate."

Habitat will be especially protected in an "immersed in nature" zone that includes sensitive areas such as Cascade Canyon in Fairfax and the Gary Giacomini preserve in San Geronimo Valley, where officials seek to eliminate roads and trails "unless no other option is available." Although "existing types of uses are allowed," visitors will be "restricted to roads and trails, which will be minimized," according to the plan.

"They saw 'immersed in nature' as 'excluded from nature,'" observed county parks commissioner Dennis Scremin. "That is a misperception."

The plan is not "anti-mountain biker," hiker or dog walker, but seeks to balance the needs of all users, he said.

"Designing a legacy for the future is hard to do," he noted, but said it's time to do so as recreational use of parklands increases. Some 1,100 Marin high school students have joined mountain biking teams in recent years, and the number is growing.

The plan covers 34 county open space preserves that are crossed by 270 miles of trails and roads, including 113 miles of fire roads and 335 trailheads. It tightens restrictions, outlines a decision-making matrix that sorts priorities for projects and sets up a series of visitor management zones in which a variety of strategies regulate activity.

"Many trail segments and intersections are unsafe," Dahl said. "Desirable trails will be built as undesirable ones are retired. The net effect should be an equal inventory of trails that is more fun and has fewer adverse effects."

The environmental report notes that the program could result in "potentially lessening the mileage of the road and trail system over time."

Tom Boss, off-road and event director of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition, agreed that criticism of the plan was in part the result of misinformation and misinterpretation — as well as people who chafe at change.

"We're doing what we can to explain" the program, he said, adding the coalition is pleased with some policies and working to improve others while promoting "more sustainable trails and providing more opportunities for mountain bikes."

Fairfax Mayor John Reed, who considers himself a "constructive critic" of the plan, said a proposal to "criminalize" or penalize those who go off trail in some areas is off base.

"Basically, they are setting themselves up for opposition from a lot of people," Reed said of county officials. "We need a system where everyone doesn't make everyone else go crazy."

At the same time, the mayor added, confusion and uncertainty are playing a part in an outburst of criticism.

"Most people do not know what an environmental impact report actually is," he noted, adding the trails document is as thick as a phone book.

Tom Halikas of Fairfax is among those who are very upset.

"All my neighbors are mad as hell," he said in a spirited email to parks officials. "I'm totally against the closing of any trail in our open space."

Halikas indicated that the voices of protest will continue.

"Our communities will not stand by passively and watch" as the county "turns our open space into a Disneyland museum forcing people on a couple of mandatory trails and creating a police state in our nature preserve with all these rangers writing citations," he asserted.

County officials, who will weigh merits of the roads and trails plan next year, note more information is posted on the parks department website at www.marincounty.org. Comments on the environmental report should be sent to the department at Civic Center or emailed to jraives@marincounty.org by Monday.